A statewide coalition seeking to see at least a dollar increase in the state cigarette tax is stressing the health problems associated with smoking during pregnancy. A leader in the effort still believes the proposed tax hike could get a vote in the current legislative session.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee is recommending Kentucky’s cigarette tax increase by at least one dollar. That action came following a hearing on the proposal brought by health and business advocates.

Cancer center directors from both the University of Kentucky and university of Louisville and a representative from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce made their case for raising the cigarette tax. In addition to individual health benefits, lowering workforce absences are also cited by proponents.

Kentucky health officials are reporting two children are among the 36 flu related deaths this influenza season. The average age for the remainder of Kentuckians who died from flu related complications is 75.

State Epidemiologist Jonathan Ballard says flu shots remain a priority recommendation. He says it’s been particularly affective in protecting against influenza type B. “Even if the flu vaccine is not as effective for influenza A that we’re seeing at the current time, it may very well help anyone get influenza B at the end of the flu season,” said Ballard.

Lexington has experienced three flu related deaths so far during the current influenza season. Two of the deaths occurred Thursday.

Fayette County Health Department Communications Officer Kevin Hall says in all three cases the elderly patients had underlying health conditions. “This doesn’t mean that the people died from the flu. It’s almost better to think of it as they had the flu at the time of their death, and the flu complicates the other underlying conditions that they have,” said Hall.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government is activating its plan to help the homeless stay safe as temperatures drop. It becomes effective when the temperature falls below 32 degrees and includes expanded shelter services and free transportation to get out of the cold.

Laura Carr is development director with the Lexington Rescue Mission. “Really just trying to make sure that people know that there is shelter available to them. There’s no shortage of shelter beds in Lexington,” said Carr. “There’s no reason for anyone to be sleeping outside if they don’t want to.”

The chair of Kentucky’s Senate Health and Welfare Committee envisions the fast approaching general assembly session as an opportunity to change in the state’s tobacco product policies. Additional taxes on cigarettes is one possibility.

Food banks in Lexington and Elizabethtown will receive some surplus food from the federal government. God’s Pantry and Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland are expected to receive more than 314,000 meal kits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles helped spread the word today with a stop in Winchester. “And these kit were originally going to families who more than likely suffered disaster or disaster relief, so each box contains a variety of food that would make up several meals with a lot of variety in it,” said Quarles.

The head of a Kentucky child advocacy organization sees lots to like in a just released report on ways to improve foster care and adoption. The panel from the House of Representatives offered its suggestions Tuesday.

Kentucky Youth Advocates Director Terry Brooks believes the panel’s recommendations could be an agenda for action rather than just another study left on a shelf.

Brooks says it focuses on upfront prevention and substance abuse treatment. It also explores improving working conditions for social workers including better pay.

Workers at the Lexington Humane Society are continuing with intense cleaning this week. The animal shelter is closed under a 14 day quarantine of its dogs.

Two dogs succumbed to an aggressive bacterial infection and that led to the closure. Senior Manager of Donor Relations Ashley Hammond says everything at the adoption center is being scrubbed. She says for the time being, strays should be taken to Masterson Station Park.

The city of Georgetown held its second annual LGBTQ Pride over the weekend. The Saturday event went smoothly despite challenging weather and an apparent threat against a lesbian couple in the community of about 33,000.

Association health plans that sell limited-coverage health insurance are back, under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump Thursday. Trump — as well as Kentucky’s two U.S. senators — touted the order as one that will allow Americans to access more affordable health care policies, but critics say the executive order could create more problems in the U.S. health care system.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is sounding the alarm about new in-vehicle infotainment technology and its role in distracted driving collisions. A Kentucky State Police official anticipates more lock-out features in future vehicles.